How to Read Pedigrees

How to Read Pedigrees

Dachshund Pedigree Abbreviations and Initials

Have you found yourself wondering what all those abbreviations and initials are on your Dachshund’s Pedigree or name? Well, let’s begin with the initials that come after your dogs name and how that pertains to dachshund breeders. Beginning in 1915, coat identifying initials were used in German Dachshund Stud Books. German Dachshund Breeders had found out how hard it was to determine the real lineage of their dogs using only a pedigree. Pedigrees only tell us a few things about any given dachshund ancestor. Depending on the kennel club that your dog is registered with there are only a few choices in Dachshund categories. For instance, Dachshunds are only registered with the AKC in one main category. “Dachshund” There is not a different category for each size. Such as a category for mini’s and a category for standards. Then there is usually one option for color and one option for pattern. There is not a category for coat type in the dachshund breed. So, the abbreviation system was a task dachshund breeders took on to alert future generations what all their dog really had going on. The original German Dachshund Breeders first used “K” for Kurzhaar or smooth coat. “R” for Rauhhaar or Wire hair. “L” for Langhaar or Long Hair .
Here in the United States, Dachshund Breeders use the following initials or abbreviations at the end of the Dachshunds name to give you a better idea about the ancestry of your Dachshund. Here are the examples of this abbreviation system as we know it.

St. Standard (rarely used, the absense of M usually denotes a Standard)

Pattern Abbreviations really important!

P- Piebald
B- Brindle
D- Dapple
Dpl- Dapple
DD- Double Dapple
Sb- Sable (rarely used) (I have seen some breeders that use PB for Piebald, but I wish they wouldn’t. It makes it hard to distinguish between a Piebald and a Piebald Brindle)

Dachshund Color Abbreviations

These will be listed under the dogs name and are an indicator of the color of the Dachshund. A lot of breeders use this system so much that is become second nature to us. We will often use these initials on our site. Ch & Tn – Chocolate and Tan, Blk & Tn – Black and Tan Bl & Tn – Blue and Tan Izzy or Issy – Isabella and Tan or solid Isabella for that matter WB – Wild Boar (I think you get the idea)
Special Color Abbreviations
Rarely used with these exceptions
C – for Cream
BC – Black and Cream
CC- Chocolate and Cream
Ch- Chocolate

In learning how to read a pedigree, remember that there are Dachshunds with more than one pattern. So, a dog that is named Ponderosa’s Suzie MSPD would indicate that Suzie was a Miniature Smooth Coat Piebald Dapple. If you would like to learn more about the many varieties of the Dachshund…please visit our dachshund colors patterns and markings pages

Pedigree Abbreviations or Initials for AKC Titles

The AKC has a whole list of abbreviations that are used in conjunction with a dogs name when he wins a title. These can either be listed in the beginning of the dogs name or the tail end. Most commonly we’ll see a dog with CH. in front of his name. This is to let us know that this dog is a Champion. It will also be colored in red on your pedigree to further alert you if a dog is a Champion. The main reason I am writing this new page is that I once added a new stud dog to our family. Which still excited me just as much as it always has! Anyway, when I received his papers I saw that his mom’s name is had these initials in it. FC, NA, NAJ, and JE. It honestly took me 30 minutes of online search to find out what all of that meant! lol Now I know that the mother of my new baby boy holds titles as a Field Champion, a Novice Agility Dog, a Novice Agility Jumper, and a Junior Earthdog! What an incredible dog! Her breeder should be so proud!
Neat tid bit **Dachshunds are the only AKC registered dog that hunts and performs both above and below ground

Here are links where you can view the complete list of title abbreviations by the AKC
This page lists the title abbreviations that come BEFORE the name of a dog http://www.akc.org/events/titles.cfm